Market Trends

📖 Joanna Fantozzi, Senior Editor at Informa Restaurant & Food Group since August 2021, has over seven years in restaurant and hospitality journalism. Degrees: bachelor's in English literature and creative writing from The College of New Jersey, master's in arts and culture journalism from CUNY. Former positions: Freelance writer, Insider, The Daily Meal. Published in The New York Times, Forbes, Vice. Expert in restaurant industry news, innovations, political/cultural issues. Joined Informa in October 2018, previously at Insider (June 2017-Feb. 2018) and The Daily Meal (Jan. 2014- June 2017).

🏨 Europe saw a decrease in hotel construction with 163,135 rooms in September 2024, down 1.0% from the previous year. Germany led with 27,175 rooms, outpacing the UK's 24,733. Asia Pacific increased by 1.7% to 509,167 rooms, dominated by China's 322,440 and Vietnam's 35,810. Middle East & Africa's construction dipped by 4.3% to 110,229 rooms, while Saudi Arabia and UAE led with 41,828 and 18,959 rooms respectively. Americas grew by 9.5% with 209,312 rooms, with the US at 157,253, followed by Mexico, Canada, and Brazil.

🏠 Faena is expanding with the Faena District Miami River, featuring two towers designed by Rafael Viñoly Architects, offering 440 homes within a 14-acre park and 45,000 sq. ft. of cultural space. Hilton is opening the 118-room Hilton Udaipur in early 2026, aiming to triple its South Asian presence to 75 properties. Berkadia refinanced two Carlsbad hotels for $92.5 million with a 65% LTV. Mandarin Oriental Residences will bring 228 luxury homes to Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, near cultural landmarks, with sales starting later in the year.

🏢 In September 2024, U.S. hotel rooms under construction rose for the seventh month in a row. Construction saw 157,253 rooms (up 7.0%), final planning included 268,190 rooms (up 10.4%), and planning had 336,205 rooms (up 38.4%). Upscale and upper midscale segments represented 50% of rooms in the final pipeline phase. The luxury and midscale categories had the highest construction growth, at 48.5% and 34.5% respectively, with luxury accounting for 8,508 rooms (5.6%) and midscale 14,902 rooms (2.9%).

👨‍💻 Today's hotel guests seek emotional connections during their stays, beyond just accommodation. Implementing brand standards ensures consistent quality across properties, without stifling staff creativity. Well-designed standards enable staff to respond authentically within a brand's structured framework. Training, including technical aspects and role-play scenarios, empowers employees to handle various situations confidently, maintaining the brand promise while adding personal touches. Effective standards become invisible to guests, highlighting genuine care and emotional authenticity in service, which is the essence of exceptional hospitality.

🍴 Bret Thorn, Senior Food & Beverage Editor, has worked with Nation’s Restaurant News since 1999 and with Restaurant Hospitality since 2016. He wrote The New York Sun’s "Kitchen Dish" column (2005-2008), reported from Thailand for Manager magazine and Asia Times, and was an ABC News runner during the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests. Thorn, a Tufts University graduate and Le Cordon Bleu-trained, won the 2006 Neal Award and was inducted into the Disciples d'Escoffier in 2014. His food expertise spans French cuisine and Asian culinary trends.

🏝 Mama Shelter is set to open in Amsterdam, Netherlands in Q1 2027, featuring 150 rooms and 80 square meters of event space. The project, initiated by Ennismore, Chagall B.V., and White House Development B.V., commenced construction in September. The Auberge Resorts Collection will manage The Birdsall in Houston, scheduled for 2027, with 105 rooms and 44 residences. St. Regis celebrates its 60th hotel with The St. Regis on the Bund, Shanghai, offering 192 rooms and 1,100 square meters of event space. The Westin London City adds four new residences, sized 1,770 to 2,893 square feet, near St. Paul’s Cathedral and Tate Modern.

🏠 Brookfield Asset Management's The Leela unveils ultra-luxurious villas, Arq by The Leela, at The Leela Palace Udaipur along Lake Pichola, Rajasthan. Designed for high-net-worth individuals, the villas feature brass inlaid floors, Thikri artwork, and lapis stones, with personalized services like culinary journeys and artistic immersions. The Leela recently filed for a Rs. 5,000 crore ($594 million) IPO, the largest in the Indian hotel sector. The Leela aims to expand its 3,382-room portfolio to include 8 new hotels by 2028, with properties in Agra, Srinagar, Sikkim, Ranthambore, and Bandhavgarh. India's luxury hotel market is expected to reach $2.72 billion by the end of the year and $4.39 billion by 2029.